Education

Will Quince Excerpts

Thursday 29th February 2024 Ministerial Corrections

[Gillian Keegan]

… There will be more investment in educational psychologists, of which there will be another 400, and more investment in early years SENCOs, of which there will be up to another 7,000.

[Will Quince (Colchester) (Con)]

Similarly to my right hon. Friend the Member for North East Hampshire (Mr Jayawardena), I welcome the introduction of a new SENCO national professional qualification—I declare an interest, as my wife is a SENCO—but to create a truly inclusive school environment, all teachers need the knowledge, skills and practical training to support children with special educational needs and disabilities. What steps is my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State taking to ensure that initial teacher training gives them that support and training?

[Gillian Keegan]

… As I said in answer to the earlier question, there is a golden thread of high-quality teacher training reforms. We will be looking at a revised framework and working with providers so that they can ensure that the contracts deliver the very best support for teachers. What will be vital, and something that Members will feel, is the additional 7,000 SENCOs that will be trained in the coming years.

[Official Report, 29 January 2024, Vol. 744, c. 590.]

Letter of correction from the Secretary of State for Education:

An error has been identified in my response to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Will Quince). The correct response should have been: